'Pacquiao remains PH's greatest fighter of all time'

ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines – Despite suffering a humiliating defeat at the hands of Juan Manuel Marquez, Manny Pacquiao remains to be the greatest boxer the Philippines has ever produced, according to a veteran sports analyst.

Ronnie Nathanieslz, who has followed Pacquiao’s career through the years, said the Filipino boxer’s accomplishments are nothing to sneeze at.

“Let's face it, for all his shortcomings, even in the face of that knockout, to me Manny Pacquiao is still the greatest Filipino fighter of all time,” Nathanieslz said in a recent interview on ANC. “No question about it.”

Pacquiao gained superstar status by facing some of the best fighters of his era including Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, Miguel Cotto, Oscar de la Hoya and Marquez.

But fight fans will remember him for being the only boxer to win eight world titles in as much weight classes, ranking him among other Filipino greats like Gabriel "Flash" Elorde and Francisco "Pancho Villa" Guilledo.

What saddens Nathanielsz is that some quarters seem to have forgetten Pacquiao’s achievements after his loss to Marquez last month.

“Some people say [Nonito] Donaire [is the best], I disagree,” he said.

“Donaire has a long way to go before he reaches Pacquiao in terms of achievement… even Nonito could see that Pacquiao is still the greatest.”